NanaRenan

I, too, grew up in a Democratic home. My parents were old-school, yellow dogs. I married and left home BEFORE I was voting age. By the time I COULD vote, I'd actually listened and paid attention to the topics and found I couldn't possibly vote anything but Republican. So, with the exception of Perot in -- what was it, '92? -- I've voted Republican in every major election since Reagan and have no regrets -- 'cept the Perot thingy!! That said -- at this moment in time, I have NO idea who I would pick out of the gaggle that are running on EITHER platform and only hope and pray someone worthy emerges before it's time to pull that lever.

Hey, LJM....I'm SO excited for you!! I had never considered the possibility of doing a panni-whatever first and a TT later. But I am beginning to have problems....I do every time I lose weight. But danged if the photos on that site didn't take me back some -- at least I'm not 68!!! But I'll be watching and praying!! Go YOU!

I've read that it was, in fact, the EYE that most troubled Darwin about his theory. He couldn't quite reconcile it's exqisite intricacies and precision with the randomness of evolution. I suspect, that were he alive today, DNA would quickly convince him (as it has thousands of scientists around the world) of the impossibility of his ideas and persuade him to the only possible explanation: Intelligent Design

Hi, kathm.....I used to snack away a lot of food in the evenings....Not as in shoveling in great gobs of food, but as in gnoshing on crackers or pretzels or popcorn or Cookies O N E B I T E A T A T I M E for hours! I'm 4 months out from surgery and didn't get my first fill until week 9. I was already relapsing into old habits! Then I got really good restriction with my fill, in October. But I've noticed over the last week that I can -- again - put away more food than I should. And I hear ya being busy during the day -- I keep my 20 month old grandson, a.k.a. Kid Destructo!!! He's like trying to watch a litter of kittens -- 10 directions at once. So I am nearly comatose by the time dinner is over! That's why I'm HEAR right now and not in front of the TV. You and I BOTH need to find OTHER things to do in the evening AND, I think, we BOTH need to call our Dr.s next week and schedule a fill!!!!

That's very wise and probably true Insubordination. And maybe she WANTS to have all her reservations knocked down, CoolCrystal. Just hang there and be ready to bat away at any more misinformation or misgivings she might have.

salsa, you do realize that is a TERRIBLE problem to have!

Quick measure = a small bale of hay or two 2 y/o children Or ten chihuahuas (or 15 if they're the size of the one I have!)

Hey -- I'm here! I seriously underestimated how BUSY I would be this holiday season -- every year I try to pare things down, but still end up busier than a one-legged man at a butt-kicking contest!! I've only made it to the gym a few times, BUT, I've been constantly on the run, so its not like I'm being a couch-potato or anything! BUT, I am ready for the CANDY*COOKIE*CAKE part of the holidays to be OVER!!!:hungry: I'm not even one to be a big sweets eater, BUT, I do find myself nibbling when it's just EVERYWHERE I LOOK!!! Argh! Anyhow, thanks for missing me. And kudos for you hard workers! Stick to it!:clap2:

Congratulations to you both!! Looking forward to seeing some pictures -- LOVE the name! And tell your wife she made the absolute BEST choice for herself AND the baby - to go natural - and she'll never regret it!

LOL Its funny seeing someone else rant over this topic. I moderate on another forum and have a "PARAGRAPHS, PEOPLE!!" thread I resurrect every so often.

Hi Kimberly....we've all been where you are. Anxious to get it started, worried it might NEVER happen. Hang in there -- it will. Take the time to educate yourself and work in the MIND. The band will fix your 'stomach', but doesn't do much for your BRAIN! We're all still HERE because we're still working on THAT organ!

Wow! Gweniper -- that's a LOT of progress since August! I've gone from 26s and a few 28s to 22s...and still a few 24s. I'll probably faint dead away the day I put on something in the TEENS and wear it!

I'm a Cancer, but fairly benign. vbg

Hi, Carole and welcome to LBT! I stayed home with my four, too. (G,B,B,G - how about you?) They're all grown now, but I watch my GrandDoll and GrandBuddy while their mommy works. I had to lose about twice what you're wanting to lose. I'm down 49 lbs. since my highest -- around Easter. Can't wait to break into the 240s -- visited there one Saturday in 2002, before that it was like 1990!!!!

While I hate the demise of smaller stores -- Wal-Mart isn't solely to blame for that. Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc....all the MEGA-stores can share in that blame. Wal-Marts weren't 24-hour and didn't have groceries in them back when I started shopping there in the 70s. Raising 4 kids on one income would've been a WHOLE lot more difficult if they hadn't moved into the 'burbs and put in groceries, too. There are three in the town I live in now -- one on either end and a new one in the middle (where I live! Yippee!) Unless I'm making some new recipe and need an unusual item, I never have to go to any other grocery store to get what I need 99.9% of the time. (Boar's Head deli meats is the only exception to that rule -- gotta go to Kroger to get that!) A lot of the 'ambience' (cleanliness, friendliness of staff, etc.) is the fault of the managers and frankly, corporate needs to be informed. They can't "fix" what they don't know about.

I've lost 29 lbs since being banded August 14th. At times I think that is too slow and wonder if I should have gone with the bypass. But that's fleeting...I just need to get the MENTAL restrictions out of my head and let the BAND restriction do its job in my gut!

But did you at least squat doing it?? LOL I posted my complete lack of exercise today as an NSV.....because unlike the past, I REALLY wanted to exercise, I just didn't have time for it! I've revised my challenge goals for December -- watch my siggie and kick my butt if you see me slacking, 'kay?

Good report, Alexandra. Glad things are going well.

I tho't the exact same thing! thanks for sharing and welcome, Dorr

My first got few spankings, because she was a little social butterfly and just hinting at restricting her got excellent compliance. But her brother was a total homebody, so that didn't work with him. Add to that the fact that by 10.5 y/o he was several inches taller than me....spankings weren't very effective either! With him, I doled out chores. Every time he'd get in trouble he'd get a chore. And every time he mouthed off about having gotten a chore, he'd get another one..... "Fold the towels and put them away." ya ya ya "And then empty the dishwasher and put away the dishes." blah blah blah "And when you're done with that, move the refrigerator and mop underneath it." BLAHty, BLAH BLAAAAAAH. "And after that, scrub the toilets." The chores got exponentially difficult and disgusting the longer it took him to just SHUT HIS MOUTH. It took him a while to figure out that he would have to back down because I wouldn't. For about 3 months, I had the cleanest house on the block!!! LOL

I just reminded myself of this. I saw an add for that TV show about the couple who are dwarfs and have children...can't think of the name right now. But it made me think....growing up, I thought there were lots of dwarfs (dwarves?) everywhere (although we used the "m" word then!)....now I just realize we probably knew every female dwarf in a 100 mile radius, because they came to Mama to make them adult clothing instead of shopping in the children's department. NanaRenandom today!!

Hey, Welcome Chris!! This made me LOL, too! My Son and DIL use "Lane GIANT" so often, I catch myself saying it, too! But "Pretty and Plump" reminded me of when I was a kid, there was one called "The Stout Shop". My mother was a seamstress and many of her customers would buy things there and bring them to her to alter. Mama used it to refer to herself and my sister and other women who were overweight. They were either "a little STOUT", "STOUT" or "pretty STOUT". I didn't give it any thought, THEN, being a skinny kid and teen, but now I HATE, HATE, HATE the word "STOUT".

LOL It only RHYMES with MILF. :girl_hug:

I've been hearing this FOR YEARS! One of these days I really AM going to try it! I promise!

I'm being bold and brave (and possibly foolish and unrealistic!!) but I increased my # of workouts for December. Always gotta stretch, right?